Parliament announced earlier this week that the troubled province has been put under administration by President Cyril Ramaphosa. Despite the intervention, government officials and members of Nehawu launched renewed action today that lead to the shutdown of hospitals. Coupled with these reports, Deputy Public Protector Kevin Malunga has confirmed in a tweet that no other province kept him as busy as the alleged maladministration in the North West in his six years in office. Katleho Morapela reports that the provincial health department, at the centre of the uprising, as well as the education department have had findings against them.

In another damning report, the Public Protector states that the Provincial Health Department has been failing for a long time to provide adequate services. It details, amongst other findings, that the Mafikeng Provincial Hospital failed to provide urgent medical care to a patient which has led to the death of the patient. The case dates from May 2003. This financially troubled department got placed under administration just a month before the entire province was placed under the national government. A forensic investigation was launched earlier that lead to the suspension of the head of the department. The scope of the investigation included a R30 million upfront payment to a Gupta-linked company.

OFM News